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1. Featured Collectors Club
2. Stories From our Readers
3. Antique News
4. Your Classifieds
5. Newly listed items
6. Funny Old Stuff
7. Wanted ads. Can you help?
8. A Vintage Recipe
9. A Vintage Recipe Request from a Reader
10. New On line Merchants
11. Helpful Resources For Collectors
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Turn Your Collecting Hobby Into A Part Time Business
This April TIAS.com will celebrate 13 years, of selling antiques and collectibles online. 2008 is going to be a great year. Why not join us and turn your collecting hobby into an online business and make a few extra bucks for yourself this year. There are no startup costs with TIAS and you can pay us on a month to month basis if you like. Want more info? Visit http://www.MakeAShop.com or give us a call at 1-888-653-7883 or drop us an email at support@tias.com . We look forward to hearing from you!
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1) Featured Collectors Club
Highlighting clubs of interest to collectors.

Buttonhook Society
This site contains information about collecting buttonhooks, and their history. These Victorian era tools were designed to help pull buttons through stiff leather on shoes and boots, or to fasten buttons on garments. Most found today date from the 1880s to the 1930s, but an early reference to this useful tool dates back to 1611.

Buttonhooks appear in many shapes and sizes, and materials utilized range from steel to gold, and from early plastic to inlaid gems. Buttonhooks are wonderful collectible items and are collected worldwide. Check the menu panel at the top of each page for a selection of articles and photographs. For more information, Click Here:
http://www.tias.com/cgi-bin/clubs.cgi?OIKey=2034&listByKey=2034&groupKey=1

If you are a member of a collectors club or you are looking for collectors with similar collecting interests, check out our new Collectors Club Directory at: http://cache.tias.com/cgi-bin/clubs.cgi
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2) After you read these stories, tell us your interesting story. Send your story to newsletter@tias.com and we may publish it here . We want to hear any interesting or unusual stories you would like to share with us
that are related to collecting or anything vintage.
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I can relate with the lady and the stuffed bear she cherished as a youngster, and her re-finding "her friend". My special Friend was my Shirley Temple Doll.

Due to parents illness and death I grew up on what I now call the "orphan Orbit". Christmas of 1937 with "my new family" is ever memorable. It is when I received my Shirley Temple doll. She was standing under a lighted tree with her arms outstretched, wearing a beautiful pleated pink dress that fanned out as it was hooked to her wrist with ribbons, and ribbon in her golden hair of ringlets. Someone made her a wardrobe matching every dress and outfit I owned, including cape and tam. We would go everywhere "as twins".

Circumstances changed, I went to live with another family. I wasn't allowed to have friends or visit. Shirley and I spend our days playing under the grape arbor. Then I was moved to a Church Home where I had some 35 little girl playmates. Shirley's special place was on the shelf in my own closet. One day another little girl had removed her and disarrayed her clothing and hair. My objections brought the woman supervisor who made me put Shirley in the "common closet" in the play room so everyone could play with her. I placed Shirley on the highest shelf I could, and each opportunity I would climb there checking her, change her clothes, lay down beside her and often go to sleep. She reminded me of happier days and of those I knew had cared for me. None of the other girls ever took her down. They, too, had special memories with a favored item.

One morning I was informed I was leaving the Home, they had packed my belongings in a box. My new "Mother" asked if I liked dolls. I quickly went to my box and discovered Shirley did not come with me.

Each and every Christmas I thought of Shirley. I related this to my husband our first Christmas in '53. Six more would pass before I told my children. On that occasion all presents, except one (for me), had been opened. My 3 children thought I had received something I did not really want because I went hysterical. I couldn't stop crying. It was Shirley! Same pink dress, ribbons and all. ..... Mops C.

--Another Story--

Carol of New York wondered if Revereware is still being made. Yes it is. I got mine in 1988 and a quick Google search shows that the company is alive and well. I have recently acquired a few older stock pots at auctions and while I love my pots from 1988 I have to say that the older ones seem sturdier. The handles are better; mine are plastic screwed on while the older ones are metal and riveted on. My mother in law is still using the ones she got when they got married 55 years ago! Incidentally, if you look on the bottom you may see a two digit number. That is the year the pot was made. The bottoms are worn on my older pieces but the newer pieces say”88”. Kelley, also of New York!

--Another Story--

Hello...I am hoping to find a family member who would enjoy having a 12 x 15" gold framed beautifully illuminated document honoring the Golden Wedding Day (Oct. 19, 1910-1960) of Rev. & Mrs. John L. Ivey, D.D. This handsome document was commissioned by the Lynn Daily Evening Item and is signed by the co-publisher, possibly C. H. Lemage. Unfortunately the state is not mentioned. It was among the possessions of a former now unknown resident of Collington Episcopal Life Care Community, 10450 Lottsford Rd. Mitchellville (Bowie), MD, 20721 Thanks for posting this. Hilda J. jay2108@erols.com

--Another Story--

When you asked about things we collect, I was going to respond, but then I realized my list was so vast it would take half a newsletter to get through. However, with the holidays just over, I did want to write about two of my seasonal collections. I collect Santa Clauses. At first I collected any that caught my eye, but I have since narrowed it down to the stuffed, rubber face guys from the 1950’s and early 60’s. My favorite one is @2.5 feet tall, and his face is simply adorable. Impish, even. Unfortunately, other family members do not like these rubber-faced Clauses, in fact they have gone so far as to call them “creepy.” It is a family joke that someone will distract me and then the others will accessorize my favorite Santa. One year, he was a fisherman, complete with pole and tacky hat, another year a cowboy, although my favorite (which I would never admit to any of them) is the time they duct-taped a butcher knife to his hand and put a pool of fake blood under him. Since then, he goes by the name of “Killer Santa”.

This year I had the last laugh because this past summer I found a four foot tall rubber faced Santa at a local antique store. How could I not buy it? Imagine the family’s surprise when they approached the door to find a jumbo “Killer Santa” waiting for them. My younger sister even screamed. Laughed, I thought I’d die!

I also collect ornaments and Christmas kitsch from the same era. This year, for the first time, I decided to put up a small tree with all my wacky ‘50’s finds. I was quite proud of it, and even managed to find the perfect tree topper: a retro angel holding a “candle” in each hand. That I had found it at Goodwill for under two bucks made it that much more adorable.

I have a brother-in-law who is a bit of a doofus. He overeats, overtalks, and wouldn’t know the meaning of the word tact if it walked up and bit him on the keister. I swear, on Christmas Day, he walked in, walked right over to the tree and said “This whole tree cost $1.39.”He always gets my blood pressure going but this was too much. I had at least $300 worth of old ornaments and lights on the tree and he was already ridiculing it? Using the most lethal tone of voice I said, “However could you know what that tree cost me?”He pointed to the angel on top of the tree. “She’s got a price tag of $1.39 on her. I thought that’s what you paid for the whole tree.”Sure enough, on her backside was the original price tag. How he had walked in and saw that thing first I’ll never know, as the tree had been up for 3 weeks and dozens of people had walked past it. Of course, they all had more tact. . .

Oh well, we only have to deal with him once a year. And he always does something inept that later gets us laughing, so I guess for the entertainment value, he’s worth something.Maybe we could start a new conversation here: What is the rudest thing anyone has said about your collections and what was your response? Ali Koomen, Mesa AZ
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SEND US YOUR VINTAGE STORIES OR COMMENTS ON THESE STORIES! Send them to newsletter@tias.com
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We collect interesting stories about collecting. Things like your best find, unusual collections, bizarre collectibles. Anything and everything that is interesting that has to do with collecting. We may publish it here. Send your story to newsletter@tias.com
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3) Antique News
TIAS.com ( http://www.tias.com) the Webs largest online antique & collectible mall, today released their annual reports listing the most frequently purchased antiques and
collectibles online in 2007. The data was gathered from over 540 Internet merchants and is based on millions of dollars of on-line sales of antiques & collectibles during the year 2007.

Here are the top 20 categories of antiques and collectibles purchased online by customers visiting antique and collectible related Web sites that are hosted by TIAS.com Inc. in 2007. This first list ranks popular categories based on the volume of items purchased within each category. As an example, more coins and currency was sold online than china and dinnerware, in 2007.

Note that the list also compares 2007 rank data to the previous year.

1) Coins and Currency - Up from #4 in 2006
2) China and Dinnerware - No movement since 2006
3) Glass - No movement since 2006
4) Advertising - Up from #5 in 2006
5) Jewelry - Down from #1 in 2006
6) Holiday and Seasonal - No movement since 2006
7) Paper and Ephemera - Up from #8 in 2006
8) Vintage Sewing - Up from #10 in 2006
9) Resources and Supplies - Up from #14 in 2006
10) Kitchen Collectibles - Up from #11 in 2006
11) Miscellaneous - Down from #9 in 2006
12) Vintage Clothing - Up from #13 in 2006
13) Toys - Up from #17 in 2006
14) Porcelain and Pottery - Down from #12 in 2006
15) Figurines - No movement since 2006
16) Books - Up from #19 in 2006
17) Dolls - Up from #20 in 2006
18) Hobbies - Down from #16 in 2006
19) Textiles - Down from #18 in 2006
20) Memorabilia - Not listed in 2006

Here are the top 20 categories of antiques and collectibles sold online in 2007, based on dollar volume. The following list is based on how much money was spent by customers who bought antiques and collectibles over the past year. As an example, more money was spent by customers buying jewelry than vintage clothing in 2007.

Note that the list also compares 2007 rank data to the previous year.

1) Jewelry - Up from #3 in 2006
2) Vintage Clothing - Up from #6 in 2006
3) Glass - Up from #5 in 2006
4) China and Dinnerware - Up from #7 in 2006
5) Furniture and Accessories - Down from #2 in 2006
6) Porcelain and Pottery - Down from #4 in 2006
7) Books - Not listed in 2006
8) Autographs - Not listed in 2006
9) Textiles - Up from #11 in 2006
10) Holiday and Seasonal - Up from #18 in 2006
11) Kitchen Collectibles - Up from #18 in 2006
12) Dolls - Up from #17 in 2006
13) Vintage Sewing - Up from #20 in 2006
14) Resources and Supplies -Down from #12 in 2006
15) Coins and Currency - Not listed in 2006
16) Advertising - Down from #13 in 2006
17) Toys - Not listed in 2006
18) Figurines - Down from #16 in 2006
19) Militaria - Down from #9 in 2006
20) Paper and Ephemera - Down from #19 in 2006

Do you have antiques or collectibles you are just itching to sell? A simple classified ad in this newsletter might just be your answer. Over 17,000 readers subscribe to this newsletter. One of them just might be able
to help you out. Place your ad today at: http://www.tias.com/classifieds

6) Funny Old Stuff
This is our humor section. These are humorous family stories and comments that are sent in by readers. If you have a submission you would like to share, please send it to newsletter@tias.com and we may run it in the next issue.
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A couple of years ago I was in a thrift store with my 14 year old son. On a shelf was a stack of 45 records, he picked one up and said "Mom, what's this?" A lady next to us looked at him in surprise while I explained it. Kat

--Another Story--

When I was a child we had neighbor children who would come to our house everyday right at dinner time. They would knock on the door and disturb our dinner. I had a bright idea. I made a big sign that said: "DAY SLEEPER, PLEASE DO NOT DISTURB". Well one evening when we were all seated around the table we heard some very loud and persistent knocking on the front door. When I went to see who it was, I saw one of the neighbor children standing there. When I asked what he needed he said: " I just wanted to let you know your sign had fallen down." It struck us as very funny. I still chuckle over it. Cee Cee. Calif.
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We need stories for our humor section. Tell us some funny, family related stories and we'll share them with our readers. Send them to newsletter@tias.com
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Do you have a funny family story you would like to share? Make someone feel good by sharing it with us. Send it to newsletter@tias.com and we may publish it here.
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7) Wanted ads. Can you help?
Here are the latest wanted ads from the TIAS Exchange. Can you help someone out?

Put pistachio pudding mix in a large bowl, then add the undrained crushed pineapple. Mix together. Fold in the thawed whipped topping. Pour into the crust and refrigerate at least 2 ˝ hours. Top with additional whipped topping or whipped cream if desired. Joanne in Duxbury
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If you enjoy these vintage recipes, you should buy an old cookbook from us. They make great gifts too. Take a look at: http://www.tias.com/cookbooks
Buy a Vintage Kitchen collectible from us. We've got lots of them here: http://www.tias.com/kitchen
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10) A vintage recipe request from a reader
As with collectibles, people also have very strong feelings about foods from their past. Sometimes these special recipes get lost. This section is to help people who are looking for lost recipes from their past. If you
submit a request, please include the geographical region where you had this recipe.
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For a number of years I made a white fruitcake called a 30 Day fruitcake or something like that. It had pineapple, peaches, etc in it and took 30 days to prepare before making the batter up. This cake required a starter. I have the recipe for the cake but had to discard my frozen starters and don't have a recipe for that. Can anyone help me? Shirley
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If you can help this reader with this recipe, please forward it to recipes@tias.com . If you have a vintage recipe request send it to recipes@tias.com and we might just publish it here.
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Be sure to check out our vintage kitchen collectibles section online at: http://www.tias.com/kitchen
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11) New Online Merchants
Be sure to check out all of the fresh inventory offered by these new merchants at TIAS.
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Grate Things
http://www.tias.com/stores/grate
Items in this store are collected locally at auctions and yardsales throughout the bluegrass region. Several different items are listed, but the main focus is ceramics or glass.

Old Time Five and Dime
http://tias.com/stores/otfd
Many of the items that we sell in our store were originally purchased in a dime store. Items for sale include: toys, banks, candy containers, vintage decorations, linens, music boxes, doll house furniture and other odds and ends.
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This year, open your own online Antique & Collectible Shop. If you have one or a few items to sell, try our classifieds at http://www.tiasexchange.com. If you have more than a few items to sell, open your own store at TIAS. It's easy and fun. Over 225,000 customers visit us on an average day. It costs you nothing to get started. Take a look at: http://www.makeashop.com
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4. Looking for prices for antiques and collectibles? PriceMiner.com has millions of them. Most items listed include color photos as well. Sign up today at: http://tinyurl.com/c6oqc (Not affiliated with Kovels.com)